When we observe astronomical objects like distant galaxies there are several complicating factors for estimating the distance: - Relativistic speed result in length contraction, - Relativistic speed results in Doppler-shifts in the frequency of light, - Simultaneity is skewed due to our differing velocities, With these effects, how are we able to state with decent accuracy how far away all of the distant galaxies are from us? Do the above effects have an impact on the measurements?

Nasir Sullivan

Nasir Sullivan

Answered question

2022-09-24

When we observe astronomical objects like distant galaxies there are several complicating factors for estimating the distance:
- Relativistic speed result in length contraction
- Relativistic speed results in Doppler-shifts in the frequency of light
- Simultaneity is skewed due to our differing velocities
With these effects, how are we able to state with decent accuracy how far away all of the distant galaxies are from us? Do the above effects have an impact on the measurements?

Answer & Explanation

Kate Martinez

Kate Martinez

Beginner2022-09-25Added 7 answers

Astronomers know about this trouble, and stick with what they can measure. For distant galaxies, quasars, cosmic background radiation, etc. they use only the redshift, the "z" value. This is defined by the measured wavelength and the known laboratory value - assuming any spectral emission and absorption lines are correctly identified.
To say anything about distance (as in kilometers, parsecs, light years etc) beyond a couple billion lightyears requires defining a frame of reference, careful thought about what "distance" means (never mind cosmology, just what does it mean with moving objects?) and this takes cosmological models such as the Friedmann-Lemaître which provide the mathematical ground for calculating null geodesics, spacelike hyperplanes and all that cool stuff that laymen go to physics school to become physicists for.
Less than a couple billion light years, yes, sure there's a problem of seeing a galaxy where it was, but wanting to speak of how far away it is "now", which we can estimate from what we can know of the galaxy's motion. But the errors due to not using GTR and the right cosmological model amount to no more than the uncertainties in our measurements or desired accuracy of results.

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